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noniwilli

Questions regarding Electrolux vs GE Cafe

18 years ago

Hi all!

I have been getting wonderful information from this forum for a couple of years, and am need of some education regarding appliances. We are building a house and will be buying new appliances for the kitchen - dishwasher, refer, micro and range. I have looked at Electrolux, and got a good price on a package...not the "Icon". What is the difference between the Electrolux Icon and the IQ touch models? I have read some REALLY bad things about the Electrolux and am very hesitant about the brand...I know that it is not the same brand that makes the vacuums. As a side note, I am in a rural area of the country and am worried that if my appliances are problematic, I will have trouble with servicing them. I am comparing them to the GE Cafe...I had GE Profile in a past home, and although I had problems with reliability, in all, I liked them. I just like the look of the handles on the cafe and electrolux..chunky and more professional. I have read of some problems with the Cafe line as well...

Can anyone give me any info on the differences in the Electrolux lines and has anyone had a good experience with them?

Sorry for the long question, I look forward to your advice!

Comments (10)

  • 18 years ago

    We have a Electrolux all gas range EW30GF65GS. It is superbly designed and functioning machine. I think it is all in the design and workmanship. They designed it really well for high power, ease of cleaning and great looks. We are very happy with it. This is after years of bad experience with a restaurant-like professional range. We lookes at Electrolux Icon we did not like its odd design like a professional range. GE cafe is odd looking and performance is not comparable. Here are my kitchen pics: http://www.flickr.com/photos/27775932@N08

    Here is a link that might be useful: My kitchen

  • 18 years ago

    Thanks for the info! That is exactly the model I have been quoted on. I know this is different from the Icon, but it is the same company who makes both, correct? I am worried about all of the bad comments being made about the Icon, and its affiliation to the other Electrolux models. Also, do you have all glide racks, or just one?

    BTW, Gorgeous kitchen! I love your granite choice!

  • 18 years ago

    I purchased the new Electrolux 27" wall oven, the built-in 27" microwave, and the top-of-the-line dishwasher.
    Everything works fine; no isssues or complaints.

  • 17 years ago

    samr - I love your kitchen. I am currently redoing mine and am looking at Electrolux and a color for my counter tops. What kind of counter tops do you have?? Marble or granite? Do you know what the color is by chance?? Thanks for your help.
    snoopeedog

  • 17 years ago

    Samr quick question did the stainless anti crumb trays on the sides come w/ the oven or did you have those made?

  • 17 years ago

    Noniwilli - Hopefully I can help shed a little light for you. We'll start with the Electrolux lines. A few years back Electrolux Corp bought the Frigidaire line, giving them a large stake in the U.S. appliance market. Four or so years ago they launched a 'super premium' line - Electrolux Icon. They tried to line it up to compete against Wolf/Subzero, Monogram, Dacor, DCS, Thermador, etc. Last year Electrolux Corp launched their Electrolux line which is meant to compete against Kitchenaid, Profile, Bosch, etc (your premium lines).

    Now, if you ask me, the Electrolux lineup is superior to the Icon line (mostly due to the fact that it was launched a few years after the Icon line) for now (the Icon line is supposed to be revamped sometime soon).

    Now, onto GE Cafe vs Electrolux. To start out I've got to say you can't go wrong with either one, it's more of what is important to you. The Electrolux has a nicer rack system, but they are not self clean racks like you find in the Cafe (you can leave them in during self clean cycles).

    The Electrolux has the hidden bake element while the Cafe has the exposed element. There is a positive and negative side either way you go. If you've got a hidden element, you have to heat the little compartment the element is concealed in before your main oven compartment is heated, but cleaning is a lot easier. The Cafe is the opposite - you heat the oven compartment immediately, but cleaning is a little more tedious.

    They both have meat probes, which is a feature I use on my oven a bit.

    The Cafe has five burners up top and the Electrolux only has 4.

    They both have the second oven at the bottom.

    The Cafe is a freestanding range (doesn't lip over the countertops and pushes back against the wall) and the Electrolux is a slide-in range (lips over the countertop).

    Cafe is a grey/black interior while the Electrolux is blue.

    And of course, the Electrolux has those amazing easy-glide, full extension racks.

    Hope this helps.

    The Guru has Spoken

    Here is a link that might be useful: The Appliance Guru Reviews, Advice, Giveaways and Commentary

  • 17 years ago

    thanks for the real world experience w/ the range. I'm ordering the slide-in in the next week (hoping they come out w/ a rebate this weekend).

    I did think it was odd that the slide in comes with 4 burners and the drop in comes w/ 5.

    I like the interior layout of the d/w but have read some iffy reviews. I'm dealing with a nightmare of a kenmore elite so I really don't want to have d/w problems with the new one.

  • 17 years ago

    I have had the Electrolux Icon Convection oven, also their speed oven (Icon) as well as their wine Fridge, since 2006.
    All have been trouble free, and it was Electrolux (same company) that made the Vacuums. I just bought the Electrolux Icon Induction Cooktop (bout 2 months ago). It too is trouble free. Electrolux usually gets high marks from Consumer Reports, both for their performance as well as reliability. I have seen some negative postings about their Fridges, thou.

    Gary

  • 17 years ago

    What about Electrolux Refrigerators????!!!!??? Any info out there?